Ray Bradbury's "The Martian Chronicals" Term Paper

Essay by David LottHigh School, 12th gradeA+, March 1996

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In The Martial Chronicals, Ray Bradbury provides a glimpse into the future that not only looks at

people from a technological standpoint, but from a human one as well. His well crafted, almost poetic

stories are science fiction in setting only. They put much more emphasis on the apathy and

inhumanity of modern society, rather than the technology. (Bryfonski, 68)

Ray Dougless Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920 to Leonard Spaulding and Ester Bradbury in

Waukegan, Illinois. He began his writing at the young age of twelve, mostly for his own amusement.

His fantastic sytle of writing was developed during this time as he read the Oz books, Alice in

Wonderland, Tarzan, Grimms' Fairy Tales, and the works of Poe. In 1934 his family moved to Los

Angeles, where Bradbury attended high school and joined the Los Angeles Science-Fantasy Society.

While a member, Bradbury published four issues of his own magazine, Futuria Fantasia.

After

graduating from high school in 1938 he took various jobs which allowed him to devote much of his

time to writing. His first story, published in 1940 by Script magazine, was 'It's Not the Heat, It's the

Hu' and established Bradbury's popular theme of social irritation. By 1942, Bradbury was able to

earn enough money writing that he could give up his job selling newspapers and devote all of his time

to what he loved. (Candee 88)

As some critics would agree, the term 'science-fiction' does not apply to Bradbury's work. Most

of his stories are more along the lines of fantasy with an intense understanding of human nature. In

'The Green Morning', a man named Benjamin Driscoll arives on Mars looking for a job and a way to

fit in. Before long, however, he faints, as many people do, because of the thin...